diff --git a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
--- a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
@@ -426,7 +426,8 @@
 	else if (snd_unit_auto == 1)
 		snd_unit = pcm_best_unit(snd_unit);
 
-	sndstat_register(dev, d->status);
+	if (sndstat_register(dev, d->status) != 0)
+		return (EINVAL);
 
 	return (dsp_make_dev(dev));
 }